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2023 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

11 Ranked Colleges
340 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 6,024 people earned their degree in geology and earth sciences, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 340 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in geology and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geology and earth sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geology and earth sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region geology students.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #1 spot on the list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students list, Missouri State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,718 for plains states region geology students per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for Plains States Region Geology students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Geology & Earth Sciences Report

3

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region geology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

4

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students list, UMN Morris has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $10,529 for plains states region geology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Geology & Earth Sciences Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Geology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Geology & Earth Sciences Report

6
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 12 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,634 for Plains States Region Geology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

7
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

KU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,257 for plains states region geology students per year to attend KU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at KU

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,401 for plains states region geology students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Geology & Earth Sciences Report

9

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students list, Mizzou has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,559 for plains states region geology students per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Columbia

10

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 4 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,702 for plains states region geology students per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMKC

11
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Carleton College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carleton, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $28,928 for plains states region geology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Carleton College

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